Although New York Fashion Week had not officially begun by Wednesday evening, it was a night certainly worth of celebration. And among a certain set of stylish men, it was the most anticipated part of the next eight days altogether: a store opening in the garment district. Most people have heard of Engineered Garments and its designer, Daiki Suzuki (above at left), but less well known is that the brand is part of a Japanese collective called Nepenthes.

It's got a major cult following in Japan and the rest of the world, but Nepenthes brands like Needles have not been available in the United States — until right now. In keeping with the unassuming branding, innovative design, and slavish dedication to artisan manufacturing techniques, the new store is housed in an old union sewing shop (the logo's still in the window). Besides the clothes, on display are every one of the tapestry-like, hand-embroidered quilts that Nepenthes collaborator A Bee has worked on for the last ten years. "We want to celebrate craftsmanship with this store," said Suzuki's partner Angelo Urrutia. "Everyone we work with is an artist, and this is first showcase of many we'll do here."

The Nepenthes store is open to the public today, and judging by the success of Engineered Garments — and that looks-like-antique-suede-but-really-it's-cotton suit on president and founder Keizo Shimizu above — it will be the place to shop, for Fashion Week and beyond.